Using wheels with out of round holes

Matt Clark

Alright so I'm still relatively new to the karting game, and I've managed to make a few mistakes along the way. Once I didn't check the wheel nuts between sessions, they came loose, and I wore some oblong holes in a wheel. Recently, I tightened them TOO much with an impact wrench, resulting in some studs breaking and again rounding out some holes on a second set of wheels. My question is, is there anything wrong with running these wheels? Buying an individual wheel that matches the set is proving to be a tough task, and I don't have the $$ to buy a couple of sets of wheels. Thanks guys.

Oscar Biondi · Posted: Thu Dec 06, 2012 3:47 pm Post subject:

Been there. Ended buying a new wheel. Ultimately, that messed up wheel will shear the studs and go flying when you are at the track putting yourself and others in danger. Save some money and get a new one Smile

Jim McMahon · Posted: Thu Dec 06, 2012 4:51 pm Post subject:

As Oscar said, there's a good chance the studs will shear and you'll lose the wheel at the most inopportune time without warning. At best putting you off the track.....or hitting someone else.
Borrow or buy a used set on credit or something, it's just not worth it.
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Randy Mckee · Posted: Thu Dec 06, 2012 5:28 pm Post subject:

I have a different opinion...

I've had 4 or 5 wheels with slightly oblong-ed stud holes and never had a problem running them. The wheel stud holes do nothing to center the wheel. They just hold it to the hub; as long as the nuts are tight, they hold the wheel to the hub just as well as perfect wheel stud hole.

I suppose if they were severely oblong-ed and you couldn't get enough surface area to hold the nut, then yes, replace it.
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mark sawatsky · Joined: 12 Sep 2012 Posts: 3

I highly recommend using a torque wrench on every wheel nut. I use nylock nuts on the wheels and torque to 24Nm.
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Oscar Biondi · Posted: Thu Dec 06, 2012 10:12 pm Post subject:

For the wheel mounting holes to get elongated the wheel had to be rocking back and forth on the hub and most likely the face of the wheel (and the hub for that matter) will not be flat anymore. Buying a new single wheel is not that expensive (unless you are looking for an OTK MXC wheel Shocked

). You may be able to make the wheel work but I would rather not risk it.

Matt Clark · Posted: Fri Dec 07, 2012 9:00 am Post subject:

Unfortunately one is an OTK wheel, the other is a freeline. Here are pictures of the two wheels in question FYI.

Greg Lindahl · Joined: 13 Jan 2011 Posts: 264

Don't continue using these wheels.

Dan Pingston · Posted: Sat Dec 08, 2012 9:24 am Post subject:

Matt, I had the same thing happen to me and I continued using the wheel. Someone told me if I used a washer I would be fine. Ended with me needing a new wheel, hub, and lost a race I was leading. Just go ahead and stop using them now. Like someone else said, you are putting yourself in danger. Mine happened to come off on a very slow part of the track, I was lucky.

Chris Parks · Posted: Wed Dec 12, 2012 9:44 am Post subject:

I bore the hole round and put a flanged steel bush in it, the nut locks down on the flange. It also means even if the wheel is left loose again the wheel will not get damaged.
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Chris